THE WRITERS INSTITUTE

Pitch-O-Rama
Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 2 p.m.

 

Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus
300 N.E. Second Avenue
Room 2106, Building 2, 1st Floor

Miami, FL 33132

 

Participation in the Pitch-o-Rama is free and open to everyone by signing up, first come-first served, in Room 2106 on Saturday, May 5. Writer’s Institute registrants may sign up beginning at Noon on Saturday, May 5. Non-registrants may sign up beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 5.

 

A tight, effective verbal pitch can help you sell your idea and, just as importantly, force you to keep your project focused and on track. Think of it this way: You’re in an elevator with the agent or editor of your dreams and you have 30 seconds to pitch your book idea. What do you say?

Remember, you’re pitching to professionals who hear them for a living. You must cut through the clutter and present your project in a clear, concise, and interesting way.

Some things to consider:
- What genre/category does your project fall into?
- How is your project different (better) from others of a similar topic/genre?
- Why are you the best person to write it?

 

Don’t:

- ramble. Keep your pitch short (60 seconds, max), exciting and focused.
- hand anything out. If you need written supporting materials to explain your project, you need to work on your pitch some more.
- recite the Cliff Notes. No chapter-by-chapter summaries or detailed character analysis.
- expect a book deal. You’ll get feedback and maybe a business card, not a contract.

 

Do:
- Distill your project’s plot/theme/topic into two or three sentences.
- Use existing, well known books as points of comparison: “It’s The Great Gatsby meets American Psycho.”
- Name it. A great title can help explain and sell your work.
- Practice, practice, practice in front of a mirror—or a friend.

Date and Time
Saturday, May 5
2 p.m.

 

Location

Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus
300 N.E. Second Avenue
Room 2106, Building 2, 1st Floor

Miami, FL 33132